Friend to Friend

  Wednesday, May 20 2015

Concerns, Announcements and Devotional Thought

A Weekly Ministry of Indianapolis First Friends Meeting

 

As Way Opens by Beth Henricks

     What a blessing to have Noah Baker Merrill join us this past weekend.  We were able to bring Noah to Indianapolis as part of our Affirmation grant and program.  I knew when we developed the curriculum a year ago that I wanted to invite him to share his ministry and voice with our youth and the entire Meeting.  The time Noah spent with our Affirmation class was meaningful and insightful.  He shared a story about the children of Reading, England in the 1670’s when the persecution of Quakers was at its peak.  The authorities came in to the Meeting in Reading and arrested all of the men and took them away to jail.  The women carried on with the Meeting and the authorities came and arrested all of the women and took them to jail.  The children scattered, afraid for their lives. But they came back together and determined that it was up to them to keep the Meeting together.  For one year, they took care of each other and kept Meeting for Worship.  Noah challenged us to imagine that the adults were no longer at First Friends and it was up to them to keep the Meeting going.  What would they keep and what would they get rid of?  The list was quite fascinating.  They want to keep our style of worship, the music, the community service we do, the education we offer, the focus on the Inner Light, the Bible, shared leadership, no dress code, the Meditational Woods, Vacation Bible School and other fun educational opportunities, and the connections.  They would get rid of rules or rigidity in belief, any forms that blocked experiencing the Inner Light, positions of power, and they really want to change the pews in the Meeting Room to be in a semi-circle to create more connections during worship.  This is what our youth would do if we were not here - something to think about!

 

We also reviewed the difference in knowledge of Quakerism by the youth when they started Affirmation and where they are today.  We used a pre-assessment and post-assessment tool.  The difference was significant.  Many of them wrote that they learned so much more about the breadth of Quakerism and the impact it has had on their life.  I am so thankful that our Meeting supported this project and our youth in this journey.  God has been our Teacher and our Light through this amazing experience.    

 

               

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

 

Join us this Memorial Day Sunday for Worship in ‘The Big Oval’!  We will gather in Fellowship Hall for our Indy 500 experience of worship, with music, a message for our children, a time of quiet reflection, a message from our pastor, and much, much more.  Start your engines, and come!!!

 

Do you know CPR? We would like to maintain a database of those that are certified. Please contact the office and let us know if you are!

 

Friends Women! You are invited to join us this Thursday, May 21st from 6-8pm for a summer salad and dessert meal. Kathy Rhyne will share her journey with God in her life. Did you know that we’re a part of Friends Women who gather around the world every year?  The United Society of Friends Women cares for women and children in Palestine, Kenya, Cuba, Jamaica, the USA, and many more places.  We’ll be collecting an offering to benefit one of the four project funds of USFWI for 2015. The fund for this quarter is the ‘Love Fund’, which will go to Ramallah Friends School.  Please join us for a nice evening with great people. We’ll see you Thursday night!

 

 

Financial Summary - For the 4 months ending April 30, expenses EXCEEDED income by $9,372.  Although expenses were slightly better than budget, income was short by over $13,000.  We appreciate your continued financial support of First Friends!

 

The Quaker Haven camp registration early bird deadline is May 23rd - if you are interested in having your children/young people attend Quaker Haven, the Meeting will provide for 50% of the cost if you register by May 23rd.  Please send in your application to Quaker Haven with the required deposit and let the office know that your young person will attend. The application and information about the camp is available at http://quakerhaven.com/?cat=3.

 

Join us for the Church Picnic & Worship in the Woods on May 31st. Worship will be at the normal time, 10:15am, in the Meditational Woods. Please bring your lawn chairs! Immediately following will be the church picnic, where we will provide fried chicken, hot & veggie dogs, rolls, ice cream, and drinks. If your last name begins with A-L, please bring a side or salad to share, if M-Z, please bring a dessert to share. Come prepared for fun with Friends, and join in the kickball game!

 

Are you looking for a place to live for the 2015-2016 school year near Butler? We got this note from Christine Orlowski: Hello! My friend and I are two Mental Health Counseling students at Christian Theological Seminary, right next to Butler. We are looking for a third roommate for a 3 bedroom house right by CTS. The lease would start in August, and would be for a year. We are Friends, 27-30 years old, introverts who enjoy good conversations, and value a clean/neat home! Sound like a living situation you'd like to be a part of? Please contact me if you are interested at corlowski@cts.edu. We'd love to meet you! Thanks so much, Christine Orlowski.

 

Ladies!  Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading will be discussing Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior on Tuesday, May the 26th, at 7 pm in the Parlor. If you would like to be on the email list or need a copy of the book list for 2015, please contact Kathy Rhyne at kathyrichelle@yahoo.com. The Princess Bride, by William Goldman is our upcoming book for June 30th.

 

Available Scholarships:

·         The Friends Educational Fund Scholarship for undergraduate African American students

·         The Overman Family Scholarship, in memory of Jess and Mark Overman, for members and attenders of First Friends. High school seniors through graduate students are welcome to apply, though undergraduate students will be given first consideration.

The deadline for the ap­plications is May 31, 2015. For an application please contact the office.

 

Mark your calendars for June 14th-June 18th - Vacation Bible School will begin on Sunday from 11:45am to 1:45pm, and will continue Monday thru Thursday 6:30pm-8:30pm. If you are interested in being a part of this VBS adventure, we’re looking for volunteers! All children 5th grade and under are welcome! The program we will be using is Everest: Conquering Challenges with God's Mighty Power.  Contact Beth Henricks at beth.henricks@indyfriends.org to register or for more information.

 

An Evening of Storytelling and Music with Phil Gulley and Tim Grimm. Indiana Friends Committee on Legislation (“IFCL”) has planned an evening to remember with nationally known Quaker storyteller, Phil Gulley and rural Americana and southern Indiana’s favorite musical son, Tim Grimm on Friday, June 19 at 7 pm at First Friends Meeting, Indianapolis.  Phil’s fun and entertaining storytelling and Tim’s heartwarming music and songs will take you on a journey to small town Indiana and rural Americana that will leave you smiling, laughing, clapping hands and stomping feet in ways you had only imagined.  Tickets are $20 (advance) and $25 (at door).  To obtain tickets, call 317 255 4739 (ask for Bill) or 317 730 2268 (ask for Tom).  Phil’s books and Tim’s CDs will be available for sale and signing after the concert.  There are a limited number of tickets.  We encourage you to purchase them in advance.  Proceeds go to benefit IFCL.    

 

Comment